理解数字包容性证据差距图中的证据

September 2025 The GSMA is a global organisation unifying themobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliverinnovation foundational to positive businessenvironments and societal change. Our vision isto unlock the full power of connectivity so thatpeople, industry, and society thrive. Representingmobile operators and organisations across themobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, theGSMA delivers for its members across threebroad pillars: Connectivity for Good, IndustryServices and Solutions, and Outreach. This activityincludes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggestsocietal challenges, underpinning the technologyand interoperability that make mobile work, andproviding the world’s largest platform to convenethe mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360series of events. We invite you to find out more at gsma.com Partnership|Progress|Prosperity This material has been funded by UK InternationalDevelopment from the UK government and issupported by the GSMA and its members. Theviews expressed do not necessarily reflect the UKGovernment’s official policies. Contents Introduction4Background7Key concepts9Evidence Gaps10User profiles and cultural and social norms11Enablers and mediators of mobile internet use16Barriers and exclusions19Findings on socio-cultural norms23Findings on life efficiency and management28Conclusion34 Introduction Introduction As mobile internet has become more available and accessible in low- and middle-income countries(LMICs), evidence on who is using it, how and why, has not kept pace. There is a persistent knowledgegap about the impacts of mobile internet use on the social, cultural and everyday lives of users, and howusers experience the benefits differently depending on their age, gender, geography and education. Thissynthesis report addresses some of these gaps by exploring empirical evidence collected in the DigitalInclusion Evidence Gap Map (EGM) – an initiative of the GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) team and theBasic Internet Foundation. A significant amount of studies were found on how using mobile internet to earn income and make socialand emotional connections influences and disrupts traditional cultural and social norms. This report reviewsthe evidence and explores how mobile internet use is helping people in LMICs to manage and improve theirdaily lives – referred to here as “life efficiency”. Key takeaways Life efficiency 1Mobile internet plays a major role inimproving life efficiency, especially forvulnerable groups.Evidence from the DigitalInclusion Evidence Gap Map (EGM) studiesconsistently show that mobile internet useincreases convenience, autonomy andaccess to information and services. Thisis particularly beneficial for workers in theinformal economy, women and youth, whooften juggle complex household and income-generating responsibilities. Still, these gainsare not universal. Rural users, older adults andwomen often face multiple access barriers andconstraints.1 3Access to mobile internet on its own is notenough to improve life efficiency.Otherconditions also need to be in place, includingdigital financial literacy, user-friendly platformsand app design and perceptions of trust andregulatory support.3 4Significant barriers to mobile internet useremain, reinforcing existing inequalities andlimiting equitable access and impact.Digitalfinancial literacy, trust in platforms, inclusiveapp design (e.g. local languages, intuitiveUX) and supportive infrastructure all have animpact. Interventions must therefore tackleboth technological and socio-cultural issues tounlock meaningful life efficiency for all.4 2Mobile internet improves life efficiency, butnot evenly.Women, in particular, report moreflexibility and control over their lives from usingmobile internet, but gendered barriers likeshared phone access, limited digital literacyand restrictive social norms often prevent themfrom reaping the full benefits. The evidencealso shows that younger, urban and better-educated users are more likely to experiencemeaningful improvements in life efficiency.2 5Evidence of the impact of mobile interneton life efficiency was found in only fivecountries.In Asia, empirical studies wereconducted primarily in India and Pakistan, whileSouth Africa, Kenya and Nigeria accountedfor the bulk of evidence in Africa. This may bedue to an emphasis on agriculture and fintechas areas of study and the relative lack ofevidence on mobile health.5 Social and cultural norms 9Digital access redefines informationalauthority.Mobile internet disrupts traditionalhierarchies by expanding sources ofknowledge beyond a user’s community andwidening their circle of trust, especiallyfor young people and those in rural andagricultural settings.9 6Gender norms restrict mobile internet useand access.While access to mobile internetopens opportunities for women to engagein income-generating activities, acquire newknowledge and make social connections,their ability to use it is strongly determined bytraditio